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Do you know that e-Naira speed wallet disappears from Google Play Store after 100k downloads?

The E-Naira speed wallet has disappeared from the Google Play Store barely 48 hours after its launch, The PUNCH has observed.

However, our correspondent learnt that the eNaira merchant wallet, which is designed for businesses, is still running and has over 10,000 downloads on the Google Play Store made available to Android users.

Checks on the Apple App Store showed that the eNaira speed wallet was still active but had been upgraded.

To access the eNaira, users have to download the ‘speed wallet’, which allows them to conduct transactions with speed and ease. It is a digital storage that holds the eNaira and is held and managed on a distributed ledger.

Before it disappeared, the speed wallet had a rating of 2.0 from 2, 150 reviews as of Tuesday evening with many complaining of glitches. 

President Kim Jong Un orders ‘hungry’ North Koreans to eat less food until 2025

North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un has reportedly ordered its citizens to eat less food until the country re-opens its border with China in 2025.

Food shortages are already affecting North Koreans, but citizens were told to tighten their belts for at least another three years by officials, according to RFA.

However, people have already complained that shortages would make it difficult to see themselves through the winter, let alone multiple years. 

North Korea closed its border with China in January 2020 as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus. But the move has had a serious impact on the nation’s economy with prices of everyday goods rising sharply as demand outstripped supply.

Speaking about the new government guidance, a resident of the city Sinuiju, who wished to remain anonymous, said that people have been warned that the chances of re-opening the border with China before 2025 were slim.

They added: ‘The food situation right now is already clearly an emergency, and the people are struggling with shortages. When the authorities tell them that they need to conserve and consume less food until 2025… they can do nothing but feel great despair.’

Despite the current hardships the North Korean people are facing, their leader Kim Jong Un has been continuing to push the idea of self-reliance this year.

Back in July, the Central Committee instructed the public to begin growing their own crops in anticipation of shortages. 

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that North Korea is short around 860,000 tons of food this year.

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The Sinuiju resident said that contempt is growing among the people.  ‘They say that telling us to endure hardship until 2025 is the same as telling us to starve to death,’ the resident said.

A second source claimed that the North Korean government is attempting to spin the food shortages as a result of their effective Covid-19 strategy, which they say has worked well.

Tragedy: See how a truck offloaded sand onto a toddler in a rural village in Ghana

A toddler has lost his life under tragic circumstances at Awutu Ahuntem near Bawjiase in the Central Region.

The one and half-year-old died when a truckload of sand was offloaded on him on October 13.

This followed a bizarre turn of events after his father had requested that sand be brought onto their premises for construction work.

Upon arrival of the tipper truck, the father directed the driver to a site where he was supposed to deposit the material.

Little did he know that his son had followed him to the said area.

The truck proceeded to offload the sand and departed.

The father subsequently returned to the house where he noticed the absence of the toddler.

They formed a search party and combed the vicinity but to no avail.

According to Graphic Online, the family was advised to search the area where the sand had been offloaded earlier.

They heeded the advice and dug through the sand where they, unfortunately, discovered the lifeless body of the infant.

This has left the family in shock and disbelief as his father said he was unaware that his boy followed him outside the house.

The driver of the truck has also denied seeing the child while he undertook the discharge.

Meanwhile, police have deposited the body at the morgue.

The case has since been reported at the Awutu Bawjiase Police Station where an investigation is expected to commence.

‘Tyson Fury may retire by next two years’ – Paris claims

Tyson Fury’s wife, Paris Tyson has revealed that the British boxer will retire from boxing within the next two years.

The 33-year-old recently retained his world heavyweight titles at the beginning of the month, when he defeated Deontay Wilder in their trilogy bout, which took place in the US. 

His wife, Paris believe his time in boxer won’t last more two years before he retires. 

‘I think for himself, I think he’ll do it for a few more years. He’s 33 now, I think until he’s 35,’ she said in an interview with talkSPORT. 

‘I know Wladimir (Klitschko) and other men have gone on until they’re 40, but then do you keep going until you lose?

‘I don’t know, I wouldn’t like to see that from Tyson. I wouldn’t like him to keep going.

‘There’s always going to be someone coming up younger and fresher if you’re over the hill, if you’re too far gone.

‘I just think another two-three years and Tyson should definitely hang up his gloves and call it a day.’

There are plenty of options for Fury as to who his next opponent could be, with both Dillian Whyte and  Oleksandr Usyk, as possible contenders. 

Sudanese army seized power to prevent civil war – General Abdel Farrah explains

Sudan’s military coup leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has said the military seized power to prevent “civil war”.


Protests are continuing for a second day in the capital, Khartoum, with roads, bridges and shops closed, while phones and internet links are also disrupted and least 10 people are reported to have been killed after Sudan’s military ousted it’s civilian government on Monday, October 25 .


The US, AU and UN have all called for the country’s return to civilian rule.

“The dangers we witnessed last week could have led the country into civil war,”  Abdel Fattah al-Burhan a news conference.

Sudan army seized power to prevent civil war - Coup leader Gen. Abdel Farrah explains


He added that the deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is being kept at the general’s house “for his own safety” and would be allowed home soon.


“The prime minister was at his house but we feared that he will be harmed and he is now with me in my house.


“I was with him last night…and he is going about his life…he will return to his home when the threats are over.”


Gen Burhan said he had dissolved civilian rule, arrested political leaders and called a state of emergency as political groups had been inciting civilians against the security forces.


Since Monday, troops are reported to have been going house to house in Khartoum arresting local protest organisers.


The city’s airport is closed and international flights are suspended.


Civilian leaders and their military counterparts have been at odds since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019.


An agreement between civilian and military leaders was designed to steer Sudan towards democracy but has proven fragile with a number of previous coup attempts, the last just over a month ago.

Zinedine Zidane interested Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job if Manchester United decides to sack him

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane is reportedly not interested in the manager’s position at Manchester United, should it become available if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is sacked. 


Solskjaer is facing huge pressure to save his job at Old Trafford after the humiliating 5-0 defeat to their biggest rivals Liverpool on Sunday.


The Glazer family have since held crisis talks with the Manchester United board, with Solskjaer fearing his time as manager may be coming to an end after nearly three years.


Zidane has been tipped as a potential replacement for the Norwegian should he leave the club, with reports he’s on a four-man shortlist.


But now ESPN have claimed that the Frenchman is ‘not interested’ in becoming Manchester United manager.


The 49-year-old has been out of a job since May, after the end of his second stint as Real Madrid manager.


It’s said that Zidane is in ‘no rush’ to return to management and is waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.

eNaira: CBN minted N200 e-million to banks

The Central Bank of Nigeria says it has minted N500 million eNaira and has already issued N200 million eNaira to banks.

The digital currency went live Monday after an official launch by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor of the top bank at the event disclosed that 33 banks are fully integrated and live on the platform, over 2,000 customers have been onboarded and over 120 merchants have successfully registered on the eNaira platform.

“Today, customers who download the eNaira Speed Wallet App will be able to perform the following:

“Onboard and create their wallet; Fund their eNaira wallet from their bank account; Transfer eNaira from their wallet to another wallet; Make payment for purchases at registered merchant locations

“Mr. President, today you make history, yet again, with the launch of the eNaira – the first in Africa and one of the earliest around the world. Mr. President, as you make groundbreaking reforms, there have been continuing debates on the true value of the Naira,” Mr Emefiele said.

Mr. Emefiele said the eNaira is not a one-off event. He said the bank will continue to refine, fine-tune and upgrade it.

A key feature of the eNaira is that it can be accessed without internet, an attribute the government hoeps will engender financial inclusion.

“Therefore, Nigerians should expect to see additional functionalities in the coming months, including Accessibility and onboarding of customers without BVN, and the use of the eNaria on the phone without the internet will further drive financial inclusion, making Nigeria one of the first countries in the world to deploy the CBDC via USSD on phones without relying on internet connectivity; Onboarding of revenue collection agencies to increase and simplify collections; Creation of sector-specific tokens to support the Federal Government’s social programmes and distribution of targeted welfare schemes in a bid to lift millions out of poverty by 2025,” Mr Emefiele said.

He thanked those inside and outside the government for their active collaboration that led to the success of the project.

“I am grateful to all of these agencies and leaders. In particular, I would like to thank the Hon Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, and all the other agencies under the Ministry for their collaboration and assistance.

“The CBN acknowledges the daunting task ahead. We as such call on all relevant stakeholders including the Financial Institutions, NIBSS, FinTech groups, Telcos, and merchants to collaborate, innovate, deepen and enhance the value of eNaira to Nigerians and to Nigeria. It is the Bank’s hope that the eNaira will drive the digital economy agenda and foster a more prosperous Nigeria.”

US suspends $700m aid to Sudan after its recent Military Coup

The United States has suspended $700 million in aid to Sudan after a military coup on Monday, October 25, telling the military of the country to immediately restore its civilian government.

“The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored and represent the will of the people,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.


“In light of these developments, the United States is pausing assistance,” Price said.


He said that the suspension concerned a $700 million package in economic support meant to assist Sudan’s democratic transition.

“We are pausing that full amount,” Price said.


“We are very much standing with the people of Sudan. The people of Sudan have made clear their aspirations for the continuation of transition to democracy and we will continue to support that including, if needed, by holding accountable those responsible for these anti-democratic actions.”


Price said that the United States received no prior knowledge of the military’s intention to oust Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and has not been able to make contact with the detained civilian leader.

Afghan parents selling their babies to take care of other children after Taliban takeover

Desperate parents in Afghanistan have reportedly sold off their babies to get enough money to feed their other children amid a humanitarian crisis unfolding in the country where more than nine million people have been plunged into severe food poverty since the Taliban seized power.

Just two months after the takeover, living conditions in Afghanistan have deteriorated so rapidly with fears it could already be the world’s biggest humanitarian disaster. 

New parents confirmed they have sold their babies just to get enough money to feed their other children.
 

Destitute citizens include a couple who sold their newborn child for £400, which will get the family ‘through a few months’.

Humanitarian crisis: Desperate parents sell their babies to get enough money to feed their other children in Afghanistan after Taliban takeover

The baby will stay with them until she’s learnt to walk and then be taken by the man who bought her.


They were told she’ll marry his child once she’s grown up, BBC News reports.


The father, who used to collect rubbish and is unable to earn any money now, said: ‘We are starving. Right now we have no flour, no oil at home. We have nothing.


‘My daughter doesn’t know what her future will be. I don’t know how she’ll feel about it. But I had to do it.’


The UN’s world food programme said 22.8 million people more than half of Afghanistan’s 39 million population are facing acute food insecurity and ‘marching to starvation’.


This compares to 14 million in August when Ashraf Ghani’s western-backed government was still in place.

The food programme’s executive director David Beasley said: ‘Children are going to die. People are going to starve. Things are going to get a lot worse.

‘I don’t know how you don’t have millions of people, and especially children, dying at the rate we are going with the lack of funding and the collapsing of the economy.’


A million Afghan children are at risk of starving to death.


The food agency needs up to £161 million a month to partially feed Afghanistan’s near 23 million vulnerable people as winter nears.


Aid groups have urged countries, concerned about human rights under the Taliban, to engage with the new rulers to prevent a collapse they say could trigger a migration crisis similar to the 2015 exodus from Syria that shook Europe.

LASU to refund 50% of school fees to hardworking students scoring 4.5 CGPA

The Management of Lagos State University (LASU) has put in place a policy to refund 50 per cent of school fees to students with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.50 in every session.

Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello Vice-Chancellor (VC) LASU gave this assurance on Monday during the matriculation ceremony of the 2020/2021 students.

She said the policy was to promote healthy competition among the students and will make them consistently maintain high CGPA scores.

Olatunji-Bello said, “We are committed to excellence and determined to emerge as the best university in the West Africa region.


“Our students’ welfare is top on our priorities as we will ensure that the learning environment remains conducive for learning.


“My dear matriculating students, please note that the distance between matriculation and convocation ceremonies is quite wide and yet so close, it is important that the journey ends successfully.’’


Olatunji-Bello advised the matriculating students to be regular in attendance at lectures.


“The university has zero tolerance for cultism, examination malpractices, corruption and hooliganism.

“Those found culpable will be dealt with in line with their disciplinary mechanisms, “she said.

UN shocked by torture and ill-treatment Nnamdi Kanu has been subjected to during his detention by DSS

The United Nations has expressed concern over the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and his continous detention and alleged torture while in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

This was contained in UN’s Mandates of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishments; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; Special Rapporteur on minority issues and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.

The UN noted that it received information on allegations of enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of Nnamdi Kanu by Kenyan Security Officials as well as his illegal rendition to Nigeria to face trial for terrorism-related charges, which were believed to be linked to his leadership of the IPOB.

The international body which also alleged that Kanu has been denied family visits, confidential access to a lawyer and necessary medical treatment for his underlying illness, stated that these constitute a violation of fundamental human rights.

The mandate reads; 

 “While we do not prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, we would like to express our concern in relation to the enforced disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu from June 19, 2021, until his reappearance at Nigerian Federal High Court in Abuja on June 29, 2021, and his reported illegal rendition from Nairobi to Abuja without judicial process.

“We are further alarmed by the alleged torture and ill-treatment Mr Kanu has been subjected to during his detention by the DSS in Nigeria. If confirmed, these allegations would constitute prima facie violations of fundamental human rights, including the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of liberty and the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment under the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights.

“The Committee against Torture and the UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly concluded that enforced disappearances may amount to torture and other forms of ill-treatment both with regard to the disappeared and with regard to their family members, due to the anguish and uncertainty concerning the date and whereabouts of loved ones.”

Demanding for an explanation on the initial steps taken by the Federal Government to safeguard the rights of Kanu in compliance with international instruments, the UN also requested that the detailed information on the factual and legal grounds of Kanu’s arrest and detention be provided as well as formal charges against him and the legal provisions used to charge him.

The mandate added; 

 “As it is our responsibility under the mandates provided to us by the Human Rights Council to seek to clarify all cases brought to our attention, we would be grateful for your observations on the following matters: any additional information and any comment you may have on the above-mentioned allegations.

“Please provide detailed information on the current state of health of Mr Kanu and the measures undertaken, or foreseen, to prevent any irreparable damage to his life and personal integrity and to ensure that he has access to the medications and medical treatment required by his health conditions.

“Please provide detailed information on the circumstances in which Mr Kanu was arrested, forcibly disappeared before being handed over to Nigerian authorities and transferred from Nairobi to Abuja. Also provide any international arrest warrant that may have been issued against him, prior to his arrest.”

The federal government was also asked to explain how Kanu’s arrest and detention are in conformity with the international human rights obligations of Nigeria.

Sunday Igboho blasts Malami: ‘I’m a car dealer not a terrorist’

Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Igboho has punctured the claim by Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the Federation, that he is being sponsored by an unnamed National Assembly member.

Chief Yomi Alliyu, Igboho’s lawyer issued a rebuttal of the claim in a statement released in Ibadan, the second of the day, on behalf Igboho.

Igboho challenged Malami to mention the lawmaker sponsoring Igboho and also questioned the attempt to link Igboho with a Bureau de change operator, Abdullahi Umar, linked with Boko Haram financing.

“The picture the AGF wanted to paint is that our client is being financed by Abdullah Umar, allegedly involved in terrorist financing. Who is now financing who?”, said Alliyu, a senior advocate of Nigeria.

“Again, Chief Adeyemo is a car dealer trading in the name of Adesun International Concept Ltd.

“Does it mean that anybody buying a car from him or selling a car to him is a terrorist?

“I challenge the Hon AGF to mention the lawmaker that sent money to Chief Sunday Adeyemo for terrorist act whether he would not be damnified in exemplary damages for defamation”, Alliyu said.

In a press statement in Abuja today, Malami claimed that a report by a Federal Government inter-ministerial committee has identified an unnamed Federal lawmaker as the sponsor of Sunday Igboho’s agitation for a Yoruba nation.

Malami said the report, full of many holes, unravelled how Igboho got monies from 43 bank accounts, across nine banks.

At first blush, the report appears to cover Igboho’s financial records long before he got involved with Yoruba nation agitation.

Igboho did not get involved with agitation until early 2021.

His involvement with Igangan crisis with Fulani settlers was the immediate catalyst.

“The Federal Government has received the report on financiers of Adeniyi Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho”, Malami said.

“The report revealed that Sunday Igboho is a Director and signatory to Adesun International Concept Limited registered on 23rd April, 2010.”

“Adesun International Concept Limited also has Oladele Oyetunji and Aderopo Adeyemo as Directors. Sunday Igboho is linked to 43 bank accounts in 9 banks.

“The major financier of the fugitive and separatists was found to be a Federal Lawmaker in the National Assembly. A total sum of ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN MILLION, ONE AND FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND NAIRA ONLY (N127, 145,000.00) was received by Igboho from his financiers between 22nd October, 2013 and 28th September, 2020 through Adesun International Concept Ltd accounts.

“A total sum of TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THREE MILLION, ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-EIGHT THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED NAIRA ONLY (N273,198,200.00) transaction outflows was recorded from Sunday Igboho’s account between 15th March, 2013 and 11 the March, 2021.

“Investigation reveals that Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) transferred the sum of twelve million seven hundred and fifty thousand naira (N12, 750,000) to Abbal Bako & Sons.

“It might be recalled that Abbal Bako & Sons and its promoter Abdullahi Umar Usman are suspects in the on-going Joint Terrorist Financing Investigation.

“Abdullahi Umar Usman is by way of financial transaction connected to SURAJO ABUBAKAR MUHAMMAD (who was sentenced to life imprisonment in UAE on charges of financing terrorism [Boko Haram]).

“This report shows the nexus between separatists’ agitation, terrorism financing and disruptions of peace in the country.

The report found connections of financial transaction between Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) and some construction companies and businesses among others.”

Apart from Igboho’s lawyer, Alliyu, the Pan Yoruba Group, Afenifere has also dismissed Malami’s report.

The group in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said the latest claims made by Malami indicated that the Federal Government is hell-bent on destroying Adeyemo.

“The Federal Government with its Attorney General, will not stop amusing themselves with illogical reasoning on the nationality question.

“It is expected that the AG would be guided by the standard of a reasonable man, which is a central test in legal inquiry, before addressing the public.

“This time around, the team set up by him, at a time he is hell-bent on nailing Igboho, has satisfied his emotional expectations, but in a most unreasonable and tenuous manner, by suggesting that Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba nation campaigner, would be on the same sponsorship with Boko Haram.

“Only someone with pathological hatred for Igboho and insult to the Yoruba nation will find a common bed for Yoruba nation agitation and Boko Haram which is known to act in tandem with the Fulani herdsmen whose terrorist acts were responsible for Igboho’s campaigns.

“The whole world knows what Igboho stood and still stands for his peaceful modus operandi, in spite of the unwarranted invasion of his house which was aimed at his life by the Federal Government.”

He said further that “it is of amusing cruelty that the Federal Government which was unable to defend itself of terrorism against Igboho and for which it was handed N20 billion in aggravated damages, would turn around that Igboho received less than N200 million to sponsor terrorism since 2013 when Igboho had never been heard of and when Major General Muhammad Buhari, as former Military Head of State then was campaigning for the Sharia as a law of general application in Nigeria.

“The Federal Government and its security agencies should better pay the damages awarded against them, apologise to Igboho and his household for the acts of terrorism committed against the peaceful campaigner.

“The Federal Government may continue to play the ostrich, the whole world knows those who enacted, engineered, and continue to promote terrorism in Nigeria.”

Kim Kardashian puts her curves in display on Fendi lingerie (Photos)

Businesswoman, Kim Kardashian put her incredible curves on display in sheer lingerie for a new SKIMS campaign with Fendi. 


The 41-year-old reality star shared a series of sexy images to Instagram on Monday for the latest collaboration as she celebrated the luxury fashion house joining forces with her own brand. 


In some images, the mother of four was pictured wearing a see-through sports bra top with the Fendi moniker and high-waisted tights which she wore with black bikini briefs. 
 

Check out the photos below. 

Kim Kardashian flashes her incredible curves in sheer Fendi lingerie? (Photos)
Kim Kardashian flashes her incredible curves in sheer Fendi lingerie? (Photos)
Kim Kardashian flashes her incredible curves in sheer Fendi lingerie? (Photos)
Kim Kardashian flashes her incredible curves in sheer Fendi lingerie? (Photos)
Kim Kardashian flashes her incredible curves in sheer Fendi lingerie? (Photos)
Kim Kardashian flashes her incredible curves in sheer Fendi lingerie? (Photos)
Kim Kardashian flashes her incredible curves in sheer Fendi lingerie? (Photos)

Odion Ighalo set for a shock ‘come-back’ to Super Eagles

Odion Ighalo is set for a shock return to the Super Eagles squad ahead of next month’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr is set to name the Al-Shabab striker in his squad for the clash against Cape Verde and Liberia next month.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, confirmed in a statement on Instagram that he has spoken to him recently about a possible return.

“I had a long conversation with Odion Ighalo, personally I believe we need experience in our attack to combine with our energetic youthful Osimhen, Onuachu, Kelechi et al.

“Odion’s body language is very positive. We are also in touch with his agents and club.

“The vibe going into these last two games and indeed Afcon is very good,” Pinnick wrote on Instagram.

The ex-Watford striker retired from international duty after Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he finished as the top scorer with five goals.

Kevin Smith, Jamaican cult lord, who engaged in ‘human sacrifice’ ritual dies in police car crash

Kevin Smith, a Jamaican cult leader whose followers killed two people in a ‘human sacrifice’ ritual has died in a police car crash while being taken to court. 

The 39-year-old was killed alongside a police officer when the car taking him from Montego Bay to Kingston to be charged crashed on Monday October 25. 

Smith was arrested last week over an alleged human sacrifice ritual that left two people dead and three more injured and was waiting to be formally charged.  

The cult leader allegedly oversaw congregants slash the throat of a woman, kill another person, and stab at least three more as part of the ritual at Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries on October 17. 

It’s unclear what caused the crash but pictures showed an apparently lifeless Smith being stretchered away from the scene.  

Jamaican cult leader whose followers killed two people in

Two other police officers involved in the crash were left in a critical condition while Smith and a third cop were killed. 

Smith was on his way to court in Kingston where he was set to be formally charged over the deaths of two people during an alleged human sacrifice ritual during a three-day convention on October 17. 

During the gathering, the attendees dressed in white robes, were allegedly instructed to take part in a bloodletting ritual which involved people getting ‘stabbed’ and ‘slashed’, witnesses told local media. 

‘I was outside waiting to go in… when I saw the lady’s throat being slashed,’ a woman who did not want to be named told the Jamaica Observer.

‘It was very intense. When I saw blood and the young lady fell, I said ‘This is it for me,’ and I walked away; I could not stay, I couldn’t.’

Witnesses said the leader asked congregants not to bring their phones. 

The insider said it was ‘normal’ for the cult leader to tell congregants to leave their phones at home but at least one follower managed to smuggle their device into the church and used it to phone for help.

Police attended the scene and stormed the building, killing one person in an exchange of gunfire and taking 41 members of the congregation into custody. 

A further three people were injured during the ritual and were taken to hospital.

The victim who had her throat slashed was named locally as Tanecka Gardner.

A source close to the investigation told The Sun: ‘Then a man was ordered to strip naked and died in the same way to get the ‘impure’ blood out of his body.

‘The ritual was said to have been overseen by Smith and an off-duty policewoman, who was a follower.’ 

Officers said there were more victims, including naked men and animals, were lined up for the ritual when they arrived.    

At least 14 minors were found at the scene and taken into custody. There were later allegations of abuse against the boys, police said.   

The source added: ‘There is huge concern that influential people – including other local police officials – were involved and that this may have happened before and gone unreported.

‘The entire congregation had been called to the church and around 50 had arrived wearing white when the killing started. Scores could have died.

‘They had done two days of fasting on Friday and Saturday and the ritual began on Sunday, with people lining up to board “the Ark” after Smith warned a great flood was coming.

‘Three more people are in hospital, one in a life-threatening condition, and more were stabbed.’

Before the ritual began on Sunday, Smith posted on Facebook: ‘The Ark is loading now! Leave immediately dressed in white.

‘I am His Excellency Dr Kevin O Smith D.Min, Crown Bishop and End Time Nabi . . . Conqueror Lion of the Tribe of the Judah King of Kings and Lord of Lord Yesus Christos, the One True and living God.’ 

He also told followers he was leading them on a ‘Noah’s Ark’ journey to salvation and that there would be ‘no survivors’ from the ‘Roman Catholic sacrifice’.  

Local media reported Smith swindled his congregation out of up to £7,000 a week which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle – including designer clothes and jewellery, a £5000,000 hillside mansion with a private swimming bool, and a new BMW X6. His followers also raised more than £22,000 to cover his legal fees after his arrest last week.   

Why is Lionel Messi struggling at PSG Club? – Thierry Henry responds

Former Arsenal and France football icon, Thierry Henry, has explained why Lionel Messi, is struggling at French Ligue 1 giants, PSG.


Messi is still adapting to Ligue 1 as he is yet to score a goal for PSG in the French top-flight league.


Henry, a former club teammate with Messi during their time together at Barcelona, says PSG manager, Mauricio Pochettino, should play the Argentine captain in the middle position in his squad to get the best out of him.


“He [Messi] is isolated, he is on the ball less,” Henry told RMC Sport.


“I wouldn’t say he’s sad, but he’s isolated. I prefer him through the middle.


“I’m having trouble with Leo out on the right. In the middle, he can set the tempo. Something needs to be found in order to get Mbappe, Neymar and Messi to play together.”


“I don’t think he can make the difference on the right, but then I don’t have the exact details from the tactical standpoint,” Henry added.


“Obviously, when you stay high up and you get out of the way, you won’t have an impact. Then you have fewer balls going towards him.


“Messi doesn’t speak a lot, he speaks with the ball,” Henry said. “For now, it’s Kylian’s team. Kylian is the one who’s making it shine most of all. The ball goes more towards him.


“At any single moment, there can only be one conductor, otherwise you can’t play at the same tempo. And in this team, there are too many conductors.”

Sit-at-home order: Govt Offices, Banks, Schools, Markets fail to open in the South-East yesterday

Commercial activities were grounded in Owerri, the Imo state capital, on Monday following the weekly sit-at-home order which is being observed in the state.

Though the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was arraigned at the Federal High court in Abuja for the first since his rearrest by the Federal Government, a large number of the residents of the capital city stayed away from their workplaces on Monday.

Banks, schools, shopping malls, and markets were shut as Owerri again experienced huge economic losses on Monday.

The ever-busy Imo state University junction, Government House Roundabout, Control Post roundabout, Warehouse junction Roundabout, Ikenegbu, Mbari, Douglas, Okigwe Road, and Wethedral Roads, were shadows of themselves.

Though our correspondent saw private vehicles ply some routes, it was observed that most commercial vehicles stayed away from the roads.

How a private firm saved Nigeria during it’s international passport crisis

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is right on point on this; his views resonate with trends in developed and the developing world on the role private firms can play in a nation’s economic development.

“It is the private sector”, said Professor Osibajo at the commissioning of BUA’s Sokoto Cement plant in July 2018, “not the government, that will ultimately drive Nigeria’s economic growth”.

True, and this does not require much elaboration. The woeful performance of public companies in Nigeria and elsewhere have been well documented and formed the basis for the massive privatization exercise that has liberated numerous sectors of the economy from the shackles and lethargies of non-performance.

What has taken place in the telecommunications and financial sectors is nothing short of a revolution. The performance of private firms in the telecommunications and financial sectors has validated Vice President Osibanjo’s assertion. Since the liberalization of those sectors of the economy, they have become the major drivers of the nation’s economic development.

In this regard, the transformation of Nigeria’s chaotic, corrupt and inefficient passport administration, issuance, and control under the Buhari administration should be considered as a positive development and a major game-changer.

Since the outsourcing of the production of Nigeria’s e-passport to a highly qualified, competent, and engaged private company, Iris Smart Technologies Limited, the problems associated with the issuance and administration of Nigeria’s passport have become a thing of the past.

This Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in passport production and administration has become a reference point in the synergy of the public and private sectors and a foretaste of what is to come. Without investing money into passport production, the Federal Government earned over $290m and N80b from this Passport Project in revenue. This sum is expected to rise as more Nigerians apply and receive new passports.

Due to the enhanced security features in the new passports, Nigerian passport holders are no longer subjected to embarrassment at international airports and other travel destinations as was rampant in the past. Gone are the days when Nigeria’s passport was printed and easily obtained at street corners and counterfeit joints.

As a private company, wholly-owned by Nigerians and based in Nigeria, Iris Technologies Limited is a good example of how the best brains in Nigeria can contribute their quota to national development. Iris invested its own money; the government never invested one single dime; they put their own money and they printed passports, it is after the sale that immigration pays them back and they have successfully handled this work for years and it has succeeded.

The idea that someone in government is contemplating taking away this job from these patriotic bonafide Nigerians who are not foreigners is indefensible and reprehensible. Iris Technologies is growing Nigerian confidence in technology and private sourcing of funds for investment. 

At this time when Nigerians are complaining of a sluggish economy, how else is this economy expected to grow other than by individuals creating an investable enterprise, sourcing their funds, and creating values for the common good? Companies like Iris are privately driven, yet they are doing very well. Instead, they should be encouraged, not discouraged.

Private firms like Iris Technologies excel where government firms fail because they are efficient and deploy resources in an efficient and result-oriented manner. They achieve quality results without wasting materials, energy, and time.

They deliver quality results to build and maintain their reputation. A company like Iris technologies would have been more respected and referred to if it were owned by foreigners. It is a shame that Nigerians do not value what they have.

This company has also introduced technological innovations that have met and exceeded global industry standards. The featured innovations on the Nigerian e-passport strengthen its security value, making it impossible to be faked, counterfeited, or transferred to an authorized user who might pose a security threat to a third-party country.

Strengthened by enhanced twenty-five new security features which include the engraving of a holder’s National Identity Number (NIN), the new Nigerian e-passport assists rather than hinder at-risk countries in their fight against terror.

Also, the data page comes in polycarbonate technology that eliminates damage and is not laminated like the previous one. Therefore, fraudsters will find it harder to alter personal information, including changing a photograph on the Nigerian passport.

The Multi Laser Image (MLC) captures the primary and secondary image of a passport holder. This heightened tamper-proof feature gives the passport double-safety uniqueness and dissuades attempts to duplicate or forge it. It also comes in a higher quality material than the previous one.

With the innovations introduced by Iris Technologies, the national passport meets ICAO standards and it is the handwork of a Nigerian company, not a foreign company.

In the best traditions of private enterprises, Iris Technology has shown what can be achieved when Nigeria’s best brains partner with the Government to work on a specific project. Private firms minimize the cost of carrying out a Government project by cutting out unnecessary expenses from the budget and still deliver the best. They manage available resources and can even take a loss to ensure they deliver high-quality jobs on demand. 

Iris Technologies has shown that government projects can be conceptualized and executed by a team of professionals. They identify a problem, brainstorm on it, and jobs are completed faster and better professionally. They can withstand pressure and still deliver on the agreed timeline. It makes sense by every parameter to encourage Iris Technologies and other indigenous firms rather than take away the job they invested so much in.

As a Nigerian company, they can be trusted to secure national assets and not share sensitive data. In trusting an indigenous company with national data, Nigeria is toeing the line of developed countries which empower local firms to improve technological, financial, and managerial capacities and then encourage them to go overseas to earn foreign currency for the country.

By Dr. Sule Ya’u Sule

Manchester United are considering sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this week

Manchester United are considering sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this week before the club’s weekend’s game against Tottenham. 


The under-fire Norwegian boss, 48, watched as his side were ripped apart in a 5 – 0 defeat by Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.


United have suffered five defeats in their last nine games and are without a win in their last four Premier League matches. Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool was United’s worst-ever home defeat to their biggest rivals.


In the aftermath of the Liverpool debacle, Solskjaer maintained the squad was on course to succeed under his management.


“I do believe in myself, I do believe that I am getting close to what I want with the club. I think what we’ve done, what I’ve seen, the development, of course the results lately haven’t been good enough, it’s hands up and that brings doubt in anyone’s mind probably.


“But I’ve got to keep strong and I do believe in what we’ve been doing, the coaching staff, the players. Today’s rock bottom, low in confidence.


“Next week is Tottenham away, it’s a Champions League game Atalanta, the next team who visits us is Man City. We have to look forward, sort our frames of mind out and make sure we go into the next training session in the right frame of mind.”


According to the Manchester Evening News, United’s hierarchy are so concerned by performances they are now giving ‘serious consideration’ to removing Solskjaer from his post.


The MEN earlier revealed former Inter Milan and Chelsea coach Antonio Conte is open to taking over as Solskjaer’s replacement but has reservations over United’s structure.


Zinedine Zidane, another coach who is a free agent, has also been linked with the post.

Mohamed Salah requests for £500,000 weekly contract at Liverpool

Liverpool and Egypt star, Mohamed Salah is reportedly demanding £500,000 per week to sign a new contract at the club.


The Egyptian’s current deal is due to expire in 2023, and the Reds are eager to tie him down to fresh terms amid reported interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

But a new report by Football Insider says Salah wants half a million pounds as his weekly salary to remain at Liverpool.


Salah revently said that he is open to seeing out his playing days at Liverpool, but he wants to be made the club’s highest earner first.


He scored a hat-trick in Manchester United’s 5-0 loss on Sunday, October 24 at Old Trafford and is currently the most inform striker in Europe alongside Victor Osimhen and Robert Lewandowski.

Nnamdi Kanu should be taken seriously as he has huge followers in the East – Ifeanyi Uba

Senator representing Anambra south, Ifeanyi Ubah has outlined why the federal government should take leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu seriously. 

Ubah in an interview with Arise TV on Monday October 25, said Nnamdi Kanu should be taken seriously because he has lots of followers in the South-East. 

On why he filed a lawsuit for a court to compel the Department of State Services to allow him visit the detention centre where Nnamdi Kanu is being held, the lawmaker who is the candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, said his goal is to engage the IPOB leader to “get him to talk to his people” about their stand on the election. 

He said; 

“You must understand that Nnamdi Kanu has a lot of followership in the south-east. So, the government should take him seriously. But we are engaging and finding political solutions to this issue. We are engaging with IPOB and showing them the importance of this election. The most important thing is that the election is constitutional, and I’m also very much sure that on the day of the election, there would be a peaceful election in Anambra state.

“I’m the only politician that’s working hard to see the reader of the indigenous people of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, so that I can also have the opportunity of talking to him and get him to talk to his people to look into the issue. Because the election is constitutional, and if really anybody loves our people, they shouldn’t be saying there’ll be no election.

“It doesn’t really help our people. If there’s no election, there will be voters apathy, and somebody might come in and then do something that might not augur well.

“IPOB is a very big force because most of them are not even in Nigeria. And they have their way with the media, and people are listening to them. So, that’s why I have dedicated myself to how we can bring in and proffer a political solution.”

Fr. Mbaka recieves Food items and N30m cash from Governor Umahi, who pleaded with him to stop criticising Buhari

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi has appealed to the Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, to stop criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari.


He made the appeal during the annual harvest, thanksgiving and bazaar of the Adoration Ministry on Sunday, October 24.


According to Punch, Umahi who is the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, David Umahi, was accompanied by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

Umahi donated ?30m, 200 yams and 100 bags of rice during the thanksgiving service, and stated that Buhari was working to redirect the economy of the nation to reduce poverty in the land.

He advised that “those elected into the position of authority should provide good governance to the masses who elected them.”


According to Umahi, governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other prominent people in the zone were making efforts to releasd leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention as soon as possible.


Fr. Mbaka infamously supported Buhari during the 2015 election but has since changed his stance, criticizing the Nigerian leader for the economic situation in the country.

Lady left by ‘Boyfriend’ to pay for huge bill after she invited 23 family members on the date

A woman invited 23 members of her family on her blind date to test the generosity of the man she was prepared to dine with and it backfired.

The woman was meeting with a man known as Mr. Lui, 29, at a restaurant in eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang according to local paper Taizhou Evening News.

It had been Mr. Lui’s mom who had set up the meeting after becoming concerned about her son’s lack of dating life.

In a hope to impress his date, Mr. Lui had agreed to pay for the meal, not realizing that her entire extended family would be joining them.

However, seeing the number of people the woman brought, the man abandoned her with the hefty $3,100 bill, refusing to pay for her family member’s meal.

Woman stuck with hefty bill after blind date refused to pay for 23 family members she brought with her on the date

The woman explained to local media that she had wanted to test her date’s generosity before committing to a relationship.

The woman’s story was shared on Weibo where it went viral and attracted over 260 million views, with most commenters siding with Liu and condemning the girl.

“Even an idiot would never bring 23 people to a date,” one commenter said

Iranian Governor recieves ‘hot slap’ by another Govt official (video)

A newly appointed Iranian governor was slapped on stage by an official who walked over to him during an event over the weekend.

Zeinolabedin Khorram, the new governor of East Azerbaijan province, was on stage delivering a speech at the Imam Khomeini Mosque in the northeastern city of Tabriz when the incident took place.

A video posted online by Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency shows a man calmly walking up to Khorram, slapping him in the face and then shoving him. 

Immediately, security guards ran toward the offender, pulling him off stage.

The embarrassing scene was witnessed by the country’s Interior Minister, representatives of Ayatollah Khamenei’s office, and other state officials.

The semi-official news agency Tasnim identified the offender as Ayoub Alizadeh, a member of the country’s armed forces.

In an interview with state-run television IRIB, the provincial governor said he did not know the offender personally.

The motive for the attack is unclear. According to Khorram, the offender told the police after he was arrested that he slapped him because he was upset that a man had vaccinated his wife at a Covid-19 vaccine clinic, rather than a woman, IRIB said in its report.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor describes claims by Malami on Nnamdi Kanu, as FALSE

The lead counsel to the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, Ifeanyi Ejiofor has described claims by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as false.

In a Facebook post, the lawyer noted that spreading false narratives against the IPOB leader “will fail”.

The Federal Government had blamed Kanu for the murder of Dr Chike Akunyili, the husband of a former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the late Prof Dora Akunyili.

The government further accused him of being responsible for the murder of a former presidential aide, Ahmad Gulak, and over 184 others in the South-East.

This is according to a committee set up by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to investigate Kanu, who is standing trial for treasonable felony.

The 24-member comprised members from the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Information, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence Agency.

The committee, headed by Malami, said consequent upon the instigating directives of Kanu, members of IPOB and the Eastern Security Network carried out massive attacks on democratic institutions, especially facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission to hamper democratic process in Nigeria.

It said the attacks, carried out between October 2020 and June 2021, led to the killing of 175 security agents.

But Ejiofor said the legal team were prepared to prove all the allegations wrong.

He posted, “There is no cause for alarm umuchukwu Okike Abiama. Do not panic at all.

“I may not wish to dignify their trending falsehood by directly responding to it but it is a bad strategy, already dead on arrival. We saw it coming!

“After a robust outing of 21st October, and strong objection raised to the empty charge, the narratives changed.

Note that the media has been awashed with this false narrative right from the very first day our client was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria, even before the amended seven charges were filed twice.

“Their seven counts were amended twice upon being served with our Preliminary Objection. Remember that the facts they substantially relied upon in their purported amended charge, dwelt much on this speculation as you saw in their press statement.

“In all, I implore you all to remain calm, peaceful and focused, your eyes should always be on the ball, because we will demystify them only in law court. They cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand, it must fail woefully!

“Please, note that your prayers has been impacting so much, it cannot be taken for granted at all. Please do not relent, Umuchineke.

“We believe in the ability of this honourable court to do justice to all manner of men, and that justice must not only be done in our case but SHALL manifestly be seen to have been done.

“Ignore their media propaganda, please, because Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not committed any offence known to law. He is a POLITICAL PRISONER, and SHALL be out soon,Our formidable legal team will leave no stone unturned to see it happen soon.”

Otonie, Colombia’s most wanted drug lord, captured alive in the jungle (photos)

Colombia’s most-wanted drug trafficker has finally been captured after evading arrest for more than a decade.


Dairo Antonio Usuga David, known by his alias Otoniel, is accused of sending dozens of shipments of cocaine to the United States and orchestrating a ruthless drugs empire, killing police officers, recruiting minors, and sexually abusing children among other crimes.


He was arrested on Saturday October 23, in the Uraba region of Colombia when a military force of over 500 soldiers descended on his jungle hideout, marking the culmination of a decade-long manhunt dubbed operation ‘Osiris’.

Colombia

Colombian President Ivan Duque likened the arrest of Otoniel, 50, to the capture three decades ago of another drug lord Pablo Escobar, who managed to evade authorities and retain his freedom for over 10 years.


 This is the biggest blow against drug trafficking in our country this century,’ Duque said during a broadcast video message. ‘This blow is only comparable to the fall of Pablo Escobar in the 1990s.’ 

Colombia

Colombia’s military presented Otoniel to the media on Saturday evening bound handcuffs and wearing rubber boots preferred by rural farmers, and he has since been transported to Bogota to await trial.

Otoniel is the alleged head of the much-feared Gulf Clan, whose army of assassins has terrorised much of northern Colombia to gain control of major cocaine smuggling routes through thick jungles north to Central America and onto the US.

Colombia

The Gulf Clan has around 1,200 armed men – the majority former members of far-right paramilitary groups – and is present in 10 of Colombia’s 32 provinces.

As well as drug trafficking, the clan is involved with illegal mining according to authorities, and stands accuses of threatening and killing community leaders across the country.

Colombia

Duque said Otoniel’s capture represented the end of the clan, but Colombia Risk Analysis director Sergio Guzman said a new leader would surely be waiting to take over.

‘It’s a big deal because he’s the biggest drug kingpin in Colombia,’ Guzman said, adding that the capture would not change the fundamentals of drug trafficking.

‘Otoniel is bound to be replaced.

Colombia

The drug lord has long been a fixture on the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s most-wanted fugitives list, with the organisation offering a $5 million (£3.63 million) reward for his capture. 

He was first indicted in 2009, in Manhattan federal court, on narcotics charges and for allegedly providing assistance to a far-right paramilitary group designated a terrorist organisation by the US government, but has eluded capture ever since amid a growing list of heinous crimes.
 

Ambassadors from 10 countries declared as ‘personal non grata’ for calling for release of jailed activist Osman Kavala

Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the ambassadors of 10 countries, including the U.S., France, and Germany, to be declared “persona non grata” after calling for the release of jailed Turkish activist, businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala.


The move comes a few days after Turkey summoned the ambassadors of the U.S., Germany, France, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden over their joint statement calling for Kavala’s release on the fourth year of his detention.


“The continuing delays in his trial, including by merging different cases and creating new ones after a previous acquittal, cast a shadow over respect for democracy, the rule of law and transparency in the Turkish judiciary system,” the joint statement said. “Noting the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on the matter, we call for Turkey to secure his urgent release.”


Kavala (pictured below) has been in detention without a conviction since 2017. He was acquitted on charges last year related to the 2013 Gezi Park protests. The verdict was overturned, and new charges were brought against him for his alleged involvement in the 2016 attempted coup.

Turkey


Erdogan has now placed the ambassadors of the ten countries as ‘personal non grata’.


Persona non grata literally means “an unwelcome person.”


“I gave the necessary instructions to our minister of foreign affairs,” Erdogan said in a speech over the weekend, October 24. 

“I told him what to do. I said that you will deal with these 10 ambassadors being declared persona non grata as soon as possible.”


The Turkish president added the ambassadors should leave the country if they do not understand Turkey.


If the country’s Foreign Ministry takes the order, it can move forward with the process without further approval paving the way for their expulsions.


The Turkish Foreign Ministry called the joint statement is “irresponsible” and said it rejected what it called attempts to influence the court system.


Last week the Turkish president criticized the countries calling for Kabaka’s release, labeling him a terrorist.


“Who are you? What is it? Leave Kavala. Do you leave the bandits, murderers, terrorists in your own country?” Erdogan said to journalists on Thursday.


“Why do 10 ambassadors make this statement? Those who defend this [George] Soros leftover are trying to get him released. I told our Minister of Foreign Affairs that we cannot afford to host them in our country. Is it your place to teach such a lesson to Turkey?”

Reacting to the move, European Parliament president David Sassoli tweeted that the expulsion of ambassadors is a “sign of the authoritarian drift” of the Turkish government.


“We will not be intimidated,” he said. “Freedom for Osman Kavala.”


The Austrian Foreign Ministry says it “deeply regrets” Turkey’s announcement to declare then 10 ambassadors “persona non grata.”
In a tweet Saturday, the ministry called for a “fair and timely resolution” of Osman Kavala’s case and for the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights’ judgments.

Crazy fashion: See Draya Michelle in skimpy chain skirt almost naked (photo)

Draya Michelle stepped out over the weekend in an outfit bound to turn heads.

The model and reality star attended rapper Drake’s Narcos-themed birthday party in Los Angeles.

She wore a chain print Versace top and a barely-there Lace by Tanaya chain skirt.

Check out the photos below.

Draya Michelle turns heads as she attends event in skimpy chain skirt that covered nothing (photo)
Draya Michelle turns heads as she attends event in skimpy chain skirt that covered nothing (photo)
Draya Michelle turns heads as she attends event in skimpy chain skirt that covered nothing (photo)
Draya Michelle turns heads as she attends event in skimpy chain skirt that covered nothing (photo)

Buhari Officially Launches e-Naira

President Muhammadu Buhari will unveil the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), known as the eNaira, today, October 25, at the State House, Abuja.

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele has said the eNaira would operate as a wallet against which customers could hold funds in their bank account.

“The eNaira, therefore, marks a major step forward in the evolution of money and the CBN is committed to ensuring that the eNaira, like the physical Naira, is accessible by everyone,” the apex financial regulator said in a statement.

Nigerians were turning to crypto for business, to protect their savings as the naira loses value, and to send payments abroad since it is often hard to obtain United States’ dollars.

Then, in February 2021, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) barred banks and financial institutions from dealing in or facilitating transactions in cryptocurrencies, warning of “severe regulatory sanctions” and freezing accounts of firms involved.

“We played like kids” Man U thrashed 5-0 by Liverpool

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has he and his team-mates for ‘played like kids’ after they were thrashed 5-0 by Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils were thrashed with goals from Naby Keita and Diogo Jota followed up by a hat-trick from the in-form Mohamed Salah to seal off the commanding victory. 

The Spaniard goalie has now given a brutal assement of United’s horror show as he sympathised with angry fans.  

‘We play like kids,’ admitted the goalkeeper after the game, via The Mirror.

He later penned a message to the Old Trafford faithful on Instagram, saying: ‘I feel the pain of our supporters, you give the team everything and we must do the same. I love this club and we will not accept this performance.’ 

Ronaldo did score one but it was chalked off for offside. 

United’s nightmare afternoon worsened as Paul Pogba was shown a red card for a high and dangerous tackle on Keita, after referee, Anthony Taylor consulted the VAR pitchside monitor.

“I am going nowhere” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refuses to resign

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has stated he won’t resign after he was humiliated 5-0 by Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, October 24 .


United conceded four in the first half for the first time in Premier League history and the defeat leaves United eight points adrift of league leaders Chelsea. 

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United have kept one clean sheet in their last 21 games but despite the growing calls for his sack, Ole says he will continue to ride on.

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Speaking after the game, Solskjaer said;


‘We are at rock bottom, we cannot feel any worse than this,’ he told Sky Sports. 

‘It is the darkest day I have had leading these players. Not good enough individually or as a team.’


Asked whether the disastrous defeat to Liverpool would spell the end of his managerial reign at Old Trafford, Solskjaer replied: 


“I’ve come too far, we’ve come too far as a group and we’re too close to give up now,” Solskjaer said.


“It’s not easy to say something apart from it’s the darkest day I’ve had leading these players.


He added: “We weren’t good enough individually and as a team.


“You can’t give a team like Liverpool those chances and unfortunately we did.


‘It’s mine (responsibility). That’s it,’ he added.


‘The coaching staff are very very good, brilliant. I chose the way we approached the game and we weren’t clinical enough going forwards. When you give good players spaces, they score.’

Before the game, Solskjaer had spoken of the importance of starting fast after United had to come from 2-0 down to beat Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday.

While United created a good opening that Bruno Fernandes missed early on, they were soon cut apart by Liverpool.

‘We have gone here two and a half years and had a similar approach to go high and press and today they scored their chances early on, they haven’t done that before,’ Solskjaer said.


‘Man Utd we should always try and home to go and stamp our authority early on. ‘ 

My husband makes love – all night, demands for weird positions —Wife says

She drinks beer; I found condoms in her bag, caught her with another man —Husband says

A 19-year-old woman in Ndola Zambia, has run away from her matrimonial home because of her husband’s excessive sexual drive which goes on throughout the night and his demands for weird positions.

The woman of Mushili Township narrated before a Kabushi local court that she ran away from her husband’s house because of too much love making which caused bruises as he went for many rounds in the night.

According to The Zambia Observer, Yoram Lungu, 32, sued his wife Charity Lungu for divorce due to marital disputes.

Charity told the court that her husband would make love to her, demand for weird positions even when she was on her periods and would not give her a break.

She complained that she could not stand his excessive sexual drive and that he would make love to her on a daily basis, hence she bolted from home.

The case was before senior presiding magistrate, Agnes Muswema, sitting with Mildred Namwizye and Evelyn Nalwizya.

“My husband cannot just do it once but many rounds, he demands for weird positions and when I try to talk to him, he tells me that this is what marriage is all about and needed to endure,” Ms Lungu said.

“I get tired and bruised expecially after weird positions. I am tired because of too much sex, but I am ready to go back to him if he reduced on sex and his demands. When I complained to him at some point he told me that if I can eat every day then I was able to have sex every day. He can’t relax all he wants is sex throughout the night,” she lamented.

But Mr Lungu in his testimony, said he was fed up because his wife displayed a bad attitude towards him when she got a job and stopped respecting him.

He told the court that when he was not doing well his wife decided to get a job in town but later discovered that it was just a way of staying away from home so that she could have enough time with her boyfriend.

He said his wife would leave home to drink beer with her sisters and at some point he had found condoms in her hand bag.

“One day I came home early from work and found my wife with a man and only told me that the young man was her friend. I have tried to talk to my wife but she doesn’t listen I just want divorce,” he said.

The court granted the couple divorce and ordered the man to compensate his wife K5, 000 with a first payment of K500 followed by monthly installments of K250.

Nigerian man busted with party drugs in India

A Nigerian national has been arrested by the Crime Branch of Goa Police, India and party drugs worth Rs 7.4 lakh (N4,072,965.90) were seized from him.


The accused identified as Amaechi Ekene was nabbed by the police along the north Goa coastal belt in Mapusa, Panaji on Thursday, October 21, and was booked under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) act.


“Upon conducting the raid, one Nigerian national Amaechi Ekene was arrested carrying multiple types of drugs namely LSD blots, ecstasy tablets both in commercial quantities and MDMA. Total market value of seized drugs is over Rs 7.4 lakh,” a Goa Police spokesperson said.

The drugs were said to be concealed in the storage compartment of a scooter by the accused. Police said that probe is on to identify the source of the drugs.

The offences under the NDPS Act, 1985, are non-bailable. The punishment can range from the period of six months to a maximum of 30 years. There is also provision for forfeiture of property, preventive detention, and even the death sentence for certain offences under the Act.

Nigerian man arrested with party drugs worth N4m in India

Sex-tape: Karim Benzema’s lawyers demand that the blackmail case against the striker be dismissed

Karim Benzema’s lawyers have called for charges against him over an attempt to blackmail fellow player Mathieu Valbuena with a sex tape to be dismissed.

On the last day of hearings, Benzema’s lawyers claimed the prosecution had failed to provide evidence to convict the star of complicity in an attempt to blackmail.

‘One can ask what really interests French people in this case? Sex? Money? Football? Not the judicial element in any case,’ lawyer Antoine Vey told the court, adding that the prosecution’s case had been built around Valbuena’s ‘feelings’.

Addressing the judge, he added: ‘It’s never too late to do some law. You are the final safeguard.’

Benzema’s other lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, criticised a ‘media-judicial circus’.

The prosecution demanded a 10-month suspended sentence on Thursday and a fine of 75,000 euros (£63,352) for the 33-year-old France international, who has not appeared during the three days of hearings which began on Wednesday October 20.

Benzema, who is expected to play this weekend against Barcelona in the Clasico, is one of five people on trial over the 2015 extortion attempt over a sexually explicit video that was stolen from Valbuena’s phone.

Testifying on the opening day of the trial Wednesday, Valbuena said the affair – which saw him and Benzema excluded from the national team – had left him feeling ‘frightened’ and fearful for his career.

Benzema claims he was only trying to help his fellow player when he approached him about the sex tape at the French team’s training centre in October 2015 and told him he could help him find someone to ‘manage’ the issue of the video.

Prosecutors claim Benzema was working with the other accused, including a childhood friend from his hometown Lyon.

In a wiretapped conversation, he told the friend who is accused of acting as a middlemen for the suspected blackmailers that ‘he’s not taking us seriously’.

The prosecution claims this shows Benzema was complicit, but his lawyer said Friday the exchange showed the footballer was ‘not an example of total contrition’ during the conversation.

‘We never said he was being kind… but it is not a criminal offence,’ Vey told the court.

In an interview with investigators in 2015, Benzema denied involvement, asking why he would get involved.

‘I have enough money. I don’t need it,’ he said.

A verdict in the trial will be announced on November 24.

Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, testified how she got ‘RIP Kobe’ notifications on her cellphone before they died

NBA legend, Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, has revealed in a sworn statement how she learned of the helicopter crash that killed him and their daughter, Gianna. 

A charter helicopter was carrying Kobe, Gianna, and other youth basketball players and coaches from Orange County to Thousand Oaks when the pilot became disoriented in fog and crashed in Calabasas. 

Vanessa Bryant testifies that she got
Air crash site

Vanessa recounted the fateful events of January 26, 2020 in a deposition for her lawsuit against Los Angeles County, which she is suing over claims deputies shared gruesome crash-scene photos with each other and a bartender.

In her testimony, which was given via Zoom on Oct. 12, Bryan said around 11:30 a.m. PT on Jan. 26, 2020, a family assistant knocked on the door and told her “there was an accident and that there were five survivors.” The helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and Gianna, along with seven others, occurred at approximately 10 a.m. local time that day.

“I asked her if Gianna and Kobe were okay. And she said she wasn’t sure. She didn’t know,” per the deposition, a written copy of which was obtained by the New York Times.

Bryant said that she tried calling her husband and was unable to get through, so she then called her mother and asked her to come watch her youngest daughters, Bianca and Capris.

“As soon as I was on the phone with my mom, I was holding onto my phone, because obviously I was trying to call my husband back, and all these notifications started popping up on my phone, saying ‘RIP Kobe . RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe.’”

When Vanessa Bryant couldn’t get through to her husband, she said she left to pick up her daughter Natalia from an ACT prep class.

“I told her that Daddy and Gigi were in an accident,” Bryant said. “Not to worry I’m sure they’re fine because there’s five survivors. And I’m sure Daddy and Gigi are fine. I just felt, I knew that they would be helping people.”

During this time, Bryant said the family assistant was continuing to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, and Bryant was “getting frustrated because I didn’t know — no one was answering my question. No one was telling me whether or not they were okay.”

Bryant said that at this point, she went to the airport and tried to fly via helicopter to the crash site, but was told that weather conditions were too bad.

Bryant gave the testimony as part of her civil lawsuit against Los Angeles County that accuses sheriff’s and fire department employees of improperly sharing photos from the crash scene, including the dead bodies of Kobe Bryant and Gianna.

Los Angeles County contends that, while the conduct was inappropriate, showing a photo to one member of the public does not constitute invasion of privacy. 

The county says that the photos were not shared with the media or posted on the internet, and thus were ‘not publicly disseminated.’ 

In her deposition, Vanessa said she pleaded with the Los Angeles County sheriff to make sure no one took photographs from the crash site, and he reassured that the area had been secured.

After Sheriff Alex Villanueva confirmed her husband, their teenage daughter, along with seven others, were killed, he asked Vanessa Bryant if he could do anything for her.

‘And I said: “If you can’t bring my husband and baby back, please make sure that no one takes photographs of them. Please secure the area,”‘ Vanessa Bryant said during the deposition. 

‘And he said: “I will.” And I said: “No, I need you to get on the phone right now and I need you to make sure you secure the area.”‘

Villanueva, she said, excused himself momentarily and reassured her the area had been secured when he came back.

Vanessa Bryant is suing Los Angeles County for invasion of privacy and negligence in an attempt to “make an example of” the county employees “to the community.”

Alex Quinonez, Ecuadorian 200-metres bronze medallist, has been shot dead

World 200 metres bronze medallist, Alex Quinonez has been killed in Ecuador, his home country.

The 32-year-old finished third at the World Championships in Doha two years ago to become the first Ecuadorian athlete to win a global medal in a track event.

According to the BBC, Quinonez was shot along with another person outside a shopping centre in the city of Guayaquil on Friday night October 22.

The Ecuadorian sports ministry announced the news in a statement on its Twitter feed, saying: ‘Today we lost a great athlete, a person who made us dream, who made us excited.’ 

‘The National Police are at the scene and the authorities are conducting the corresponding investigations. He will forever remain in the hearts of all Ecuadorians,’ it added. 

Ecuador’s president Guillermo Lasso tweeted: ‘We are very sorry for the painful loss of Alex Quinonez, father, son, a great sprinter who marked the sport. Our sincerest condolences to your loved ones. Rest in peace. Those who take the lives of Ecuadorians will not go unpunished. We will act forcefully.’ 

Ecuador’s Olympic Committee said in a statement that the circumstances surrounding the death had ‘not yet been clarified’.

Quinonez qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games but did not compete after being suspended for breaching the whereabouts rules.

News of the sprinter’s death came on the same day as the funeral of Kenyan distance star Agnes Tirop, who was killed earlier this month

Fulani herdsmen killed a woman on her farm in Enugu

A woman identified as Cordelia Utazi, was allegedly shot and hacked to death by suspected Fulani herdsmen on her farm at Ugwujoro Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. 

It was gathered that the deceased, popularly known as Oyee Eze, was weeding her farm with her daughter, Onyinye, on Monday, October 18, when the herdsmen attacked them.

A source who was involved in evacuating the corpse to the Faith Foundation Hospital in Nsukka told Vanguard on Thursday, that the deceased’s daughter had drawn the attention of her late mother to the presence of the armed herdsmen but sensing they were going to be attacked, the young girl fled and alerted other villagers.

“They were weeding in the farm when her daughter looked up and saw herdsmen with their cattle on their farm. The daughter, Onyinye, saw the herdsmen moving very fast towards their direction and took to her heels,” the source narrated.

“The mother, Cordelia Utazi, also wanted to run but the herdsmen shot her. When they got to where she was lying helpless, they used cutlass to cut off her hands. They equally used something to smash her skull. It was the daughter who ran to the village to inform others of what had happened to her mother

“In that state of confusion, the villagers rushed to the scene and discovered the woman in a pool of her blood. Before they could reach there, the herders had disappeared into nearby bushes with their cattle. It was a terrible incident in our community.

Spokesperson of the Enugu State Police Command,  Daniel Ndukwe, who confirmed the incident said said police has commenced investigation to fish out the hoodlums who allegedly murdered the farmer.

“Investigation has been launched to fish out the hoodlums, alleged to have murdered a middle-aged woman in Ugwujoro Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani LGA in the afternoon hours of 18/10/2021. Further development will be communicated,” he said.

However, the South East Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, said his members were not responsible for the killing.

“There are no herdsmen at Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State as of today” he said. 

While saying that those who carried out the attack are not members of his association, he added that not every herdsman seen in the bush is a member of MACBAN.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen hack woman to death on her farm in Enugu
Suspected Fulani herdsmen hack woman to death on her farm in Enugu
Suspected Fulani herdsmen hack woman to death on her farm in Enugu

IPOB Threatens to Lockdown South East if FG Fails To Release Nnamdi Kanu On or Before Nov 4

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has threatened a 6-day lockdown of the entire Southeast if its leader, Nnamdi Kanu is not released unconditionally before November 4, 2021.

In a statement released by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said failure to release Kanu would attract a one-week Sit-At-Home from November 5, 2021 till November 10, with exception of Sunday, November 7, 2021. The Anambra governorship election is slated for November 6, 2021 which the federal government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have insisted must hold.

IPOB says the one week sit-at-home is to let its ”oppressors understand that they are not going to tolerate any plan to torment or abandon their leader in DSS custody through frivolous court adjournments.”

The group said it regrets any inconveniences the lockdown would cause on the people of the region but added that no amount of sacrifice would be too much to ensure its leader regained his freedom.

The statement read in part;

“We wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that IPOB will lock down Biafra land from 5th of November to 10th of November except Sunday, November 7th, a day our people worship the Almighty God, Chukwu Okike Abiama.

Following the adjournment of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s court case to 10th of November 2021, by the Federal High Court Abuja, we the great movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that IPOB will lock down Biafra land from 5th of November to 10th of November except Sunday, November 7th, a day our people worship the Almighty God, Chukwu Okike Abiama, if the Nigeria Government fails to release our leader unconditionally before 4th of November 2021.

Our leader, onyendu Mazi Nnamdi MUST be released UNCONDITIONALLY on or before November 4, 2021 because he has not committed any offense known to any law. Failure to release our leader onyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU on or before November 4, 2021, our one week Sit-At-Home begins on November 5, 2021 till November 10.

Although we quite understand the pains and adverse effects of this option on our people, we are compelled to take it to achieve a better purpose in the collective interest of Biafrans. We have taken time to analyse what transpired on October 21 when our Leader was arraigned in court and discovered that the federal government is not sincere and only wants to humiliate him and keep him perpetually in DSS custody to rot there.

We all saw how lawyers, journalists, Igbo delegates and respected traditional rulers and other people who came from all around the world to witness his court case were restricted and denied access into the court premises by security agents who kept them outside under the scorching heat of the sun. What a humiliation and wickedness!

We cannot accept that anymore. We can never allow our leader onyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU to be tried SECRETLY and we can never also allow him to be tried under SHARIA law under any guise. NIGERIA must follow International laws in handling our leader.

Mazi Nnamdi KANU is in DSS dungeon today because of his passion for Biafra independence, and we must sacrifice all we can to ensure that he regains his freedom. He has sacrificed so much for us all, so we must be prepared to sacrifice little for him.

Unless the federal government releases him unconditionally before November 4, we shall sacrifice one week for him as a warning protest to convey to our oppressors that Nnamdi Kanu represents over 70 million Biafrans.

He is innocent of all the charges preferred against him. As long as he is in detention our individual businesses do not matter so much because he is suffering for us all and we can’t abandon him.

We seriously regret the inconveniences this may cause our people but it’s a necessary sacrifice we need to make until we have our full independence. Nobody resident in Biafra land is expected to flout this directive as doing so amounts to challenging the will of the people on the Biafra project.

This one week sit-at-home is also to let our oppressors understand that we are not going to tolerate any plan to torment or abandon our leader in DSS custody through frivolous court adjournments. Any plans to subject him to trauma in detention through long adjournments while real terrotists and mass murderers are having fun across the country cannot fly.

Nnamdi Kanu must be freed because he commited no crime. Asking for referendum so that Biafrans will decide whether or not they want to continue as part of Nigeria is no crime. He should not suffer for seeking justice for his people.

We have been enslaved and caged enough by the Fulani controlled federal government of Nigeria and its allies. If we shut down Biafra land just for one week to secure our permanent freedom, it is worth the sacrifice. Everybody should brace up for this sacrifice.

This is the time all Biafrans must remain united. Let’s not give the oppressors and their agents any room to create division in our mist.”

How to Install a WordPress Adsense Code

You’ve finished designing your small business’s WordPress site, filled it with content and built up a steady stream of visitors. Now, if you host your site on your own server or use WordPress’s VIP service, its time to monetize it with advertisements and affiliate links to start turning your traffic into revenue. After signing up for a service to place these ads on your site, install the ad code which the service gives you in the index.php file of your WordPress theme. Even if you are not a professional programmer, you can install the code through your blog’s dashboard.

1

Log in to your advertising service’s website, then copy the tracking code you need to install on your WordPress blog to your clipboard by selecting the code and pressing “Ctrl-C.”

2

Log in to your WordPress account. Click your blog name in the dark gray bar across the top of the screen, then click “Dashboard” in the drop-down menu.

3

Click on “Appearance” in your left sidebar and select “Editor” from the menu.

4

Select “index.php” from the list of your theme’s files in the right sidebar.

5

Paste your ad code into the text box holding the page’s source code by clicking the line where you want the ad code to begin, then pressing “Ctrl-V.”

6

Click the blue “Update File” button below the text box to install your ad code.

‘I am not retiring yet’ – Cristiano Ronaldo says @ 36

Manchester United and Portugal striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has no intention of retiring from international football and says he believes that he can still claim trophies at his new club.


The former Real Madrid and Juventus striker, will be 37 by next February but says he has no intention of stepping back from the international stage, as he still feels strong enough and motivated to challenge

“Why? I think it’s not my time yet,” Ronaldo told Sky Sports News when asked if he was considering international retirement. “It’s not what people want, it’s what I want.


“It’s when I feel that I’m not capable to run, to dribble, to shoot, if the power is gone … but I still have that stuff so I want to continue because I’m still motivated. It’s the main word – [motivated] to do my stuff, to make people happy and my family happy and the fans and myself. I want to put the level even higher.


“You speak about Portugal but in the Champions League I have the most goals, the most wins, assists … everything. But I want to carry on. I like to play football. I feel good to make people happy.”


“We are in a moment in my opinion that Manchester (United) do a few changes; they buy me, they buy (Raphael) Varane and (Jadon) Sancho,” the veteran further explained.


“The adaptation will take time, even the system of the game that we play, but I think step by step we have to put it in our mind that everything is possible.


“I don’t speak only about my individual stuff, I put the collective in first place. To win things as a collective, it’s more easy to win individual stuff, so I believe that and I still think it’s possible.”

Late Rapper DMX’s family at WAR for his estates as 15th child comes forward

The battle for estate of late rapper DMX has taken another turn as a lady has come foward, claiming to be the child of the late hip-hop star.

Page Six reported that a Georgia woman named Raven Barmer-Simmons contacted DMX’s other adult children in the past few weeks. She and the fellow 14 alleged children of the late rapper will all undergo a DNA test to confirm their paternity. 

If she is indeed one of DMX’s kids, she could be the 15th. A battle is already shaping up over who gets what as assets get divided. A judge appointed 3 of DMX’s sons, Xavier, Tacoma and Sean as temporary administrators, but that’s clearly not sitting well with everyone.

Battle for DMX

The late rapper’s fiancée Desiree Lindstrom, who is the mother to his 5-year-old son, Exodus, had applied to the court to be legally declared his “common-law wife,” but the judge shut her down.

Lindstrom had also petitioned the court to be an administrator of his estate estimated to be worth around $1 million, as had the late rapper’s older daughters, Sasha Simmons and Jada Oden.

Battle for DMX

Commenting on the development, Herbert Nass, the trusts and and estates attorney for Xavier, Tacoma and Sean Simmons said; 

“Judge Blackwood appointed Xavier, Tacoma and Sean as the temporary administrators of the estate.

“The next big thing is to determine who are the rightful heirs. The estate is going to ask everyone to prove paternity through DNA testing. All the legal children of DMX will be entitled to an equal share of his estate.

“We need to collect assets and pay debts and administration costs. We don’t have a lot of information about his income streams, but now the temporary administrators have been appointed, we can ask questions and expect answers.”

Despite selling more than 74 million albums and building a successful career in both music and movies, DMX left behind an estate estimated to be in debt.

Nass added that lack of a will from DMX had further complicated setting up the estate. He said;

“I want to point out that when a person dies without a will, a surety bond needs to be posted, and obtaining a bond is difficult.

“We spoke to a number of surety companies and it was only Thomas Whittemore at Executive Bond who was able to get it done.”

DMX died of an OD which triggered a heart attack back in April. He was 50.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor Blasts Malami Over Allegations On Nnamdi Kanu

The lead counsel to the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, Ifeanyi Ejiofor has described claims by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as false.

In a Facebook post, the lawyer noted that spreading false narratives against the IPOB leader “will fail”.

The Federal Government had blamed Kanu for the murder of Dr Chike Akunyili, the husband of a former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the late Prof Dora Akunyili.

The government further accused him of being responsible for the murder of a former presidential aide, Ahmad Gulak, and over 184 others in the South-East.

This is according to a committee set up by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to investigate Kanu, who is standing trial for treasonable felony.

The 24-member comprised members from the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Information, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence Agency.

The committee, headed by Malami, said consequent upon the instigating directives of Kanu, members of IPOB and the Eastern Security Network carried out massive attacks on democratic institutions, especially facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission to hamper democratic process in Nigeria.

It said the attacks, carried out between October 2020 and June 2021, led to the killing of 175 security agents.

But Ejiofor said the legal team were prepared to prove all the allegations wrong.

He posted, “There is no cause for alarm umuchukwu Okike Abiama. Do not panic at all.

“I may not wish to dignify their trending falsehood by directly responding to it but it is a bad strategy, already dead on arrival. We saw it coming!

“After a robust outing of 21st October, and strong objection raised to the empty charge, the narratives changed.

Note that the media has been awashed with this false narrative right from the very first day our client was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria, even before the amended seven charges were filed twice.

“Their seven counts were amended twice upon being served with our Preliminary Objection. Remember that the facts they substantially relied upon in their purported amended charge, dwelt much on this speculation as you saw in their press statement.

“In all, I implore you all to remain calm, peaceful and focused, your eyes should always be on the ball, because we will demystify them only in law court. They cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand, it must fail woefully!

“Please, note that your prayers has been impacting so much, it cannot be taken for granted at all. Please do not relent, Umuchineke.

“We believe in the ability of this honourable court to do justice to all manner of men, and that justice must not only be done in our case but SHALL manifestly be seen to have been done.

“Ignore their media propaganda, please, because Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not committed any offence known to law. He is a POLITICAL PRISONER, and SHALL be out soon,Our formidable legal team will leave no stone unturned to see it happen soon.”

Chelsea beats Norwich 7-0 To Stay Top of Premier League Table

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea on Saturday defeated bottom of the table Norwich City in a 7-0 thriller to maintain their lead in the 2022/2023 English Premier League season table.

Chelsea’s victory earned them 22 points this weekend to maintain the gap between them and rivals Liverpool.

The Reds will have to win their away match against Manchester United on Sunday to close the gap on Chelsea.

Anaedoonline.ng understands that Norwich is yet to win a match this season.

Chelsea’s forward, Mason Mount scored his first Premier League hat-trick against Norwich today, clearing the coast for the Blues.

Jorginho had teamed up with Mount to open the scoring in the eighth minute of the game.

Chelsea doubled their lead with another goal through Callum Hudson-Odoi, who slid in from Mateo Kovacic’s pass.

The Blues made it three before half-time when Reece James brilliantly dinked the ball in from Mount’s assist.

While the Canaries are yet to recover from their wounds, the fourth goal on 57 minutes came in for the Blues through Ben Chilwell, his fourth in as many matches, Naija News understands.

To make it five for Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi played a deflective shot in off Max Aarons.

The game became tougher for Norwich after a second yellow card was handed to Ben Gibson.

At this time, Chelsea added a sixth through Mount’s retaken penalty.

Though Tim Krul had saved the original spot-kick, he was adjudged to have been off his line when the ball was struck.

Mount completed his hat-trick in stoppage time, to inflict the Canaries’ joint-heaviest Premier League defeat and secure a third successive victory for Chelsea, giving them 22 points.

The Nigerian Police, DSS and Military Have Killed Over 20,000 Of Our Members – IPOB alleges

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the federal government through the various security agencies of killing over 20,000 of its members.

IPOB added that the government is the one sponsoring the activities of unknown gunmen but trying to blame the group so as to find an excuse against it.

It also denied any form of involvement in sponsoring the #EndSARS protests which rocked Nigeria last year, noting that they’ve also been victims of government ineptitudes.

These, the proscribed group through a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful said in response to the allegation by the federal government that it is responsible for the attacks on 164 police stations as well as the killing of 175 security operatives in the southeast region.

Anamedoonline.ng recalls the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami had on Friday during a press conference in Abuja, blamed IPOB for the killings in the southeast of both civilians and security operatives.

But reacting in a statement, IPOB said the federal government should rather prove its allegations in court rather than opt for a media trial.

“Why not wait for us at the law court instead of resorting to media trial. That shows he has no case to prove against IPOB,” Powerful said.

“To put the records straight, IPOB remains a peaceful movement, and was never involved in such barbarities Malami was linking IPOB with,” he added.

“Instead of killing security agents, IPOB members have been the victims of the extra-judicial killings by the wicked Nigeria security operatives as no fewer than 20,000 of our members have been murdered in cold blood by the Nigeria security agencies.

“It is not controvertible that innocent IPOB members and Biafran youths have been wasted at different times by the Nigeria security agencies. This genocide against IPOB is still ongoing, yet they want to suddenly change the narrative.

“We have always said it that the unknown gunmen were a creation of the Nigeria security agencies to implicate and demonise IPOB. We have no hand in the killings in parts of Biafra land. The federal government which is sponsoring the killings is desperately looking for excuses to implicate IPOB and nail our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU who they renditioned from Kenya. Our leader is innocent of all the concocted allegations and lies vomited by Malami against him.

“It is clear to all and sundry that IPOB was not involved in the EndSARS protests. Nigerian youths who were fed up with the evil in Nigeria vented their anger during the #EndSARS protests which took place simultaneously in different parts of the country.

“IPOB could not have been the ones behind the protest which was a spontaneous reaction of dissatisfied youths against the maladministration in the country.

“Malami should stop wasting his time and just fix a date for the Biafra referendum where our people can decide which country they want to stay. Failure to do so is to their peril.

“All destruction in our territory was politically motivated and carried out by security agents recruited and nicknamed unknown gunmen. We know the so-called unknown gunmen are DSS personnel, army and police personnel set up to implicate IPOB and ESN.”

Wow! See the world record-breaking nine babies at 5 months old ! (photos)

New photos have been shared of proud parents Halima Cisse and Kader Arby, five months after they gave birth to a world record nine babies at the Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca, Morocco.

The stunning delivery which happened on May 5, broke the current world record set by Nadya Suleman in 2009, who gave birth to eight babies that survived .

Proud parents pictured with their world record-breaking nine babies at 5 months old

Now, five months later, Ms Cisse says the babies who were born prematurely are getting bigger and healthier and are almost ready to go home to Mali.

Speaking from hospital in Morocco, the 26-year-old said: ‘All of them are getting on very well, and are a joy to look after. They are getting stronger every day and it may well be they are allowed to leave medical care soon’ 
 

Proud parents pictured with their world record-breaking nine babies at 5 months old

The four boys are called Mohammed, Bah, El Hadji and Oumar while the five girls are named Hawa, Adama, Fatouma, Oumou and Kadidia .


This is the first time that the the world record-breaking nine miracle babies born to the same mother are pictured all together for the first time.

Proud parents pictured with their world record-breaking nine babies at 5 months old

Ms Cisse’s nine kids, who were conceived naturally, each weighed between 500gm to 1kg when they were born and had to remain in incubators in the clinic’s intensive care unit where they were looked after round the clock by a team of doctors and nurses for the first few months of their lives.


‘Giving birth to one child is hard enough but having nine is unimaginable,’ said Halima. ‘It’s astonishing the amount of work that is involved in looking after them. I’m grateful to the medical team that are doing all the hard work and the Government of Mali for funding this.’

Proud parents pictured with their world record-breaking nine babies at 5 months old


Halima gave birth by Caesarean section, accompanied by her sister, Aisha, while her husband initially stayed behind at their home in Timbuktu, Mali.


Describing the birth, Halima said: ‘As the babies were coming out, there were so many questions going through my mind. I was very aware of what was going on and it seemed as if there was an endless stream of babies coming out of me.

Proud parents pictured with their world record-breaking nine babies at 5 months old


She added: ‘My sister was holding my hand but all I could think about was how would I look after them and who was going to help me?’

The care bill so far is approaching the equivalent of £1million, and most of it has been funded by the Malian government.

‘I got cash and I’m looking for a young man who can perform’ – Divorcee says

Assets And More I do have. Everything a man may need I do have I only need to be loved like any other women out there. I don’t really like older Men because they are getting tired very easily and they are Stubborn.

My ex husband was about 65 Years old I tried my best to make him understand that as a young woman I need to reach my orgasm during Mating. What I got from his answer was that I disrespect him and he’ll not listen to me.

I took the old Man to Man’s Clinic Seeking Medical Help to his Prank so that it can last longer , When we get there he started to bring up the attention to Us like each and everyone was starring at us Wondering if Whether we agreed on terms before I brought him there.

I'M A Woman With My Money, I'M Iooking For A Young Man But He Must Be Able To Perform A Show

To tell the truth I’m still young I’m 28 years old the old Man came to my family I forcefully Married me as he has More Money. I disagreed but my dad forced me to as It was good for the family.

He took me to varsity I finished my studies now I’m a qualified engineer I work for my self.

But who will work my body ?? I’m starting to loss it in the head I really need this .

Younger Men are still active they’ll give me what I need and I’ll get satisfied but as now I don’t know What to do.

We divorced with my husband and now it’s my time to have fun.

Over 888 people were killed in Kaduna state in 9 months – State Government

At least 888 people were killed in violent attacks carried out in various parts of Kaduna State in the last nine months.

This was captured in a quarterly security report presented by the state government. From the report, a total number of 343 people were killed by bandits between July and September this year alone.

2,553 people were kidnapped by bandits in various communities across the state from January to September 2021.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home affairs, Samuel Aruwan who presented the report during an enlarged security meeting on Wednesday October 20, attributed the deaths to kidnappings, banditry, communal clashes, violent attacks and reprisals that cut across all ethnic and religious groups in the State.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai sympathized with the victims of the attacks and ordered the immediate compensation of surviving victims and relatives of the deceased.

FIRS may start collecting tax from petty traders e.g hairdressers and carpenters

Executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami has disclosed the agency’s plan to make the informal sector contribute to building a modern society.

Nami who received a delegation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by Chris Isiguzo, the National President, in his office, in Abuja, said their proposed road infrastructure tax would provide the government with adequate funding for road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance.

In the statement released by the FIRS’ chairman’s media aide Johannes Wojuola, it was also stated that the scheme would also provide the needed security for roads in the country.

He said; 

“The only way to make the informal sector contribute to building a modern society is by making them pay when they use the roads.

“That is why we are proposing that government should consider introducing Road Infrastructure Tax in Nigeria.

“In many jurisdictions, road users pay for the use of road infrastructure as such it shouldn’t be seen as an additional burden on our citizens because it has the potential of making life better for all of us.

“Without the tax that you pay, governments at all levels would not be able to fulfil their mandate to the electorates. Tax money also helps to ensure the roads you travel are safe and always in good condition.”

Nami who averred that the economy presently relies heavily on non-oil revenues to discharge its statutory responsibility of paying salaries and providing social amenities to the citizenry, added that despite sharp practices by some companies who were in the habit of evading taxes, by shifting their capital and profits to tax havens, as well as low revenue from Petroleum Profit Tax, due to the shortfall in crude oil production among other factors, the FIRS has been putting forward critical reforms that have been yielding positive impact on the Service’s operations.

He added; 

“Without the tax that you pay, governments at all levels would not be able to fulfil their mandate to the electorates. Tax money also helps to ensure the roads you travel are safe and always in good condition.

“Adopting technology in tax administration is crucial in improving domestic revenue mobilisation in view of dwindling oil prices in order to avoid falling into a debt crisis. It is against this backdrop that the TaxPro-Max became the channel for filing Naira-denominated tax returns effectively from 7th June 2021.

“The TaxPro-Max enables seamless registration, filing of returns, payment of taxes and automatic credit of withholding tax as well as other credits to the Taxpayer’s accounts, among other features. The technology also provides a single-view to Taxpayers for all transactions with the Service.”

Nami also said that the FIRS collected N4.2 trillion between January and September 2021 as VAT, following the “successful facilitation of ISO 27001:2013 Certification of the FIRS’ Exchange of Information Centre and the achievement of 114.66 percent of the VAT collection target in the first half of the year”.

Elon Musk may become first trillionaire in the world

Elon Musk

Elon Musk, the world’s most renowned entrepreneur and the CEO of two of the world’s largest companies, SpaceX and Tesla, is set to become the world’s first trillionaire.

According to The Guardian, analysts at Morgan Stanley have predicted that Musk, 50, could become the world’s first trillionaire, largely thanks to his aerospace company SpaceX.

The analysis estimates that his aerospace company SpaceX will push Musk over the trillion-dollar mark in the coming years. 

“More than one client has told us that if Elon Musk were to become the first trillionaire… it won’t be because of Tesla,” analyst Adam Jones told the newspaper, referring to the electric car company behind the majority of his wealth to date.

“Others have said SpaceX may eventually be the most highly valued company in the world in any industry,” Jones added.

Though humans have yet to reach Mars, one of Musk’s goals for the company via SpaceX’s Starship, the advanced launch system already has high expectations following the success of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.

“As one client put it, ‘talking about space before Starship is like talking about the internet before Google,’ ” explains Jones.

Earlier this month, the valuation of SpaceX increased to $100.3 billion, up from $74 billion in February, according to CNBC.

The valuation made SpaceX, which Musk owns about 48% of the corporation,  the world’s second-biggest privately held company, The Guardian states.

SpaceX has celebrated a number of milestones this year, including successfully launching and landing a Starship rocket for the first time. Last month, SpaceX sent the first all-civilian crew into orbit.

Musk is currently estimated to have a $242 billion net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Tesla still remains his biggest asset.

Bezos, currently the second-richest person in the world, per Bloomberg,  is estimated to have a net worth of $197 billion, followed by Bernard Arnault ($163 billion), Bill Gates ($133 billion) and Mark Zuckberg ($127 billion).

“Youths under 30, have recieved Moderna COVID-19 jab, are more likely to develop rare heart inflammation” CDC reveals

Young men who receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are at higher risk of developing a rare case of heart inflammation than those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, according to researchers

Researchers on Thursday October 21, revealed the data at a meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) advisory committee to discuss approval of booster doses for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shot.

2A CDC official presented data that showed young men under the age of 30 who receive the Moderna vaccine have experienced a slight uptick in myocarditis and pericarditis cases.

This is the first data that shows an increased risk in one of the vaccines when compared to the other. 

However, officials stand by the safety of the vaccine, and still recommend it for use as the benefits heavily outweigh the potential risks. 

Currently, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden have restricted use of the Moderna jab among young people.

The CDC found that 36.8 out of every one million men aged 18 to 24 who received the Pfizer vaccine, and 10.8 of every one million aged 25 to 29, developed myocarditis.

Moderna recipients had higher rates of the condition, with 38.5 out of every one million males aged 18 to 24, and 17.2 of every million aged 25 to 29, developing the condition.

After age 29, the rate of heart inflammation as a vaccine side-effect significantly falls off.

Researchers at the CDC also calculated the total number of excess cases Moderna recipients suffered compared to Pfizer recipients.

They found that for every one million men aged 18 to 39 who received the Moderna vaccine, there were 21.5 more cases of myocarditis with pericarditis than there were in every one million who received the Pfizer jab.

For cases without pericarditis, there were 19.1 excess cases for every one million vaccine recipients.

The officials note that there was no difference in the severity of the myocarditis cases, though. 

However, it was stated that the Moderna vaccine is still considered safe and effective despite this data as the cases are still few and far between with less than 0.01 percent of people who get the shot developing myocarditis.

“Romelu Lukaku left Inter Milan to Chelsea to double his salary” – Beppe Marotta says

Inter Milan CEO, Beppe Marotta has claimed Romelu Lukaku only joined Chelsea for money after he left the Italian club. 

Lukaku fired Inter to a first Serie A title in 11 years with 24 goals last season but left the club for Chelsea in August for a club-record £97.5million.

According to reports, Lukaku is Chelsea’s top earner by a mile, earning £450,000 per week including bonuses and dwarfing the club’s next highest earner N’golo Kante, who is on £290,000 per week.

It’s a huge increase on the money Lukaku was on at San Siro, where he pocketed £142,000 weekly.

Inter chief Marotta believe the huge increase was the reason Lukaku left the Italian champions to return to Stamford Bridge.

‘Lukaku left to double his salary, in Italy these figures can’t exist,’ Marotta told Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera.

While Inter cashed in on Lukaku, their financial troubles meant they could not re-invest the money in the squad.

According to Marotta, they found a perfectly good replacement for the Belgian in Edin Dzeko, who joined on a free transfer from Roma.

‘Lukaku was sold for €115m and we bought Dzeko for free. On the pitch, there isn’t much difference,’ Marotta added. 

Husband set his wife ablaze after she insisted on travelling for her mother’s burial preparation

A woman has died in a hospital after she was rushed there with severe burns.

The woman, named Ebere, was set allegedly ablaze by her husband, according to a friend of hers mourning her on  Facebook.

The friend said Ebere had travelled for her mother’s burial preparations and returned home without her luggage. When her husband asked why, she explained that she plans to travel again soon so didn’t think it necessary to bring her belongings back with her.

This reportedly angered the husband and he poured petrol and set her on fire at their home in Lagos.

Ebere’s injuries were so severe that she didn’t survive.

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The husband was also burnt by the fire he allegedly started and he’s receiving treatment in a hospital in Lagos, according to the friend of the deceased.

Ebere’s death has started a conversation about domestic violence on Facebook.

Woman dies after she was allegedly set ablaze by her husband because she insisted on travelling for her mother
Woman dies after she was allegedly set ablaze by her husband because she insisted on travelling for her mother

ALERT: Flubot Malware is spreading – NCC alerts

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has alerted Nigerian telecom consumers of the existence of new, high-risk and extremely-damaging Malware called Flubot.

Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at NCC said information received from the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), reveals that the Flubot “targets Androids with fake security updates and App installations”.

Adinde further disclosed that Flubot “impersonates Android mobile banking applications to draw fake web view on targeted applications” and its goal transcends stealing personal data and essentially targets stealing of credit card details or online banking credentials.

FluBot is circulated through Short Message Service (SMS) and can snoop “on incoming notifications, initiate calls, read or write SMSes, and transmit the victim’s contact list to its control centre.”

It also attacks Android devices by pretending to be “FedEx, DHL, Correos, and Chrome applications” and compels unsuspecting users to alter the accessibility configurations on their devices in order to maintain continuous presence on devices.

The NCC also listed different ways one can protect themselves from the attack. The statement read; 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) wishes to alert millions of Nigerian telecom consumers of the existence of new, high-risk and extremely-damaging, Malware called Flubot.

A malware is a generic word used to describe a virus or software, designed specially to “disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.”

According to the information received today, October 21, 2021, from the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), Flubot “targets Androids with fake security updates and App installations”.

The ngCERT affirmed that Flubot “impersonates Android mobile banking applications to draw fake web view on targeted applications” and its goal transcends stealing personal data and essentially targets stealing of credit card details or online banking credentials.

FluBot is circulated through Short Message Service (SMS) and can snoop “on incoming notifications, initiate calls, read or write SMSes, and transmit the victim’s contact list to its control centre.”

This malware attacks Android devices by pretending to be “FedEx, DHL, Correos, and Chrome applications” and compels unsuspecting users to alter the accessibility configurations on their devices in order to maintain continuous presence on devices.

The new malware undermines the security of devices by copying fake login screens of prominent banks, and the moment the users enter their login details on the fake pages, their data is harvested and transmitted to the malware operators’ control point from where the data is exploited by intercepting banking-related One Time Passwords (OTPs) and replacing the default SMS app on the targeted Android device.

Consequently, it secures admittance into the device through SMS and proceeds to transmit similar messages to other contacts that may be on the device it has attacked enticing them into downloading the fake app.

It suffices to say that, when Flubot infects a device, it can result in incalculable financial losses. Additionally, the malware creates a backdoor which grants access to the user’s device, thus enabling the invader or attacker to perform other criminal actions, including launching other variants of malware.

In view of this discovery and understanding of the process by which this malware operates, and in order to protect millions of telecom consumers and prevent criminal forces, irrespective of location, from using telecom platforms to perpetrate fraud and irredeemable damages, the NCC hereby wishes to reiterate the advisory of ngCERT as follows:

1. Do not click on the link if you receive a suspicious text message, and do not install any app or security update the page asks you to install.

2. Use updated antivirus software that detects and prevents malware infections.

3. Apply critical patches to the system and application.

4. Use strong passwords and enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) over logins.

5. Back-up your data regularly.

6. If you have been affected by this campaign, you should reset your device to factory mode as soon as possible. This will delete any data on your phone, including personal data.

7. Do not restore from backups created after installing the app. You may contact ngCERT on *[email protected]* for technical assistance.

8. You will also need to change the passwords to all of your online accounts, with urgency, around your online bank accounts.

9. If you have concerns that your accounts may have been accessed by unauthorised people, contact your bank immediately.

As the Commission intensifies efforts in ensuring increased broadband access, enabling telecoms consumers to carry out their legitimate activities more efficiently and effectively online, it also restates its commitment to empowering consumers through useful information and education to protect them from falling victims of all kinds of cyber-attack while online. This explains the rationale for the launch of telecom sector’s Centre for Computer Security Incident Response by NCC on 30th September, 2021.

Police actively searching for man who raped his 90-year-old mother

Kenyan police have launched a manhunt for a suspect identified as Patrick Mumo Ngenge, who raped his 90-year-old mother on October 20, 2021, in Mbooni-Makueni county before going into hiding.

The octogenarian was found in her bedroom by her eldest son writhing in pain and complaining of waist pains.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said the 45-year-old suspect invaded his mother’s house at 8:00 pm before committing the heinous act.

The DCI said in a statement; 

“She tearfully narrated her harrowing ordeal in the hands of her younger son Patrick Mumo, 45, who forced his way into her bedroom at around 8:00 pm as she slept and subjected her to the beastly act.”

The lady was immediately rushed to Kisau Sub-county hospital in serious condition, where she is currently undergoing treatment. Doctors at the medical facility have since confirmed that indeed she had been raped.

Patrick Mumo Ngenge has been asked to turn himself in as the law will eventually catch up with him.

Florida man shot and killed his neighbor because his cat entered his home

A Florida man was so angry that a cat entered into his home that he grabbed a gun and fatally shot his neighbor, police authorities have revealed.


Cliffton Bliss Jr., 58, is accused of killing the cat’s owner moments after the animal went into his property Wednesday, October 20 in the city of Umatilla.


Bliss picked up his firearm and first threatened to shoot the cat, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.


The neighbor, James Taylor Jr., got into an argument with the suspect and asked him not to shoot the animal, but Bliss turned the weapon and instead shot the 41-year-old man in the chest, authorities said.

Bliss was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree homicide. He is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail.


On Thursday, October 21, the suspect told his wife and witnesses at the scene that he fired his gun after being assaulted, according to an incident report obtained by the Orlando Sentinel. But an eyewitness reportedly told detectives that the pair had no physical contact before the killing.

Investigation continues.

US military hypersonic missile test fails, as China and Russia’s hypersonic tests were successful

The US suffered a setback in the arms race with China and Russia to develop hypersonic weapons after its latest test failed, the Pentagon said in a statement Thursday, October 21.


A booster stack, which is the rocket used to accelerate the missile to hypersonic speeds, failed and the test of the projectile, the hypersonic glide body, could not move, the Pentagon statement said.


Because the rocket failed the Pentagon was not able to test the hypersonic glide body, which is the key component needed in hypersonic weapon development.


 
The missile test took place Thursday October 21, at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska and comes weeks after Russia and China successfully tested their hypersonic missiles.

“Experiments and tests — both successful and unsuccessful — are the backbone of developing highly complex, critical technologies at tremendous speed, as the department is doing with hypersonic technologies,” said Lt. Cdr. Tim Gorman, a Pentagon spokesman, in a statement.


Nevertheless, the Pentagon insists it remains on track to deliver offensive hypersonic weapons in the early 2020s, a timeline that seems more urgent with the advances in hypersonic technology shown off by the Russians and Chinese.

“This flight test is part of an ongoing series of flight tests as we continue to develop this technology,” Gorman said.


The failure is another blow to the US effort following a failed test in April.


Traveling at Mach 5 or faster, hypersonic weapons are difficult to detect, posing a challenge to missile defense systems. Hypersonic missiles can travel at a far lower trajectory than high-arcing ballistic missiles, which can be easily detectable. Hypersonics can also maneuver and evade missile defense systems.

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